The Gustavus baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Wartburg College on Sunday night at the Metrodome. Cody Sukalski and Jake Kruegel combined to pitch a shutout for a 3-0 win in game one, while a nine-run sixth inning gave the Gusties a 13-6 win for the sweep. Gustavus, which is now 3-1 overall, will travel to Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 15 with the first pitch at 1 p.m.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Gusties broke a scoreless tie when Greg Lane crossed home plate after leading off the bottom of the third inning with a double to right field. Gustavus added runs in the fourth and fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead heading into the Knights’ final two at-bats. Jake Kruegel came in to close out the game on the mound for the Gusties and was able to keep Wartburg off the scoreboard as it stranded four runners in the sixth and seventh innings.
Taylor Fish and Andrew Woitas recorded four of Gustavus’ eight hits as both players went 2-for-3 from the plate and Fish drove in a run. Cody Suklaski picked up the win as he pitched five scoreless innings scattering eight hits and striking out three batters. Kruegel gave up one hit and walked three batters in two innings of work.
Wartburg got on the scoreboard first in the second game of the twinbill to take an early 1-0 lead at the end of the first inning. The Gusties tied the score in the top of the third inning when a Tory Herman single to right field drove in Mike DesLauriers from second base. However, Patrick Grau hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third to help the Knights score four runs to regain a 5-1 lead. Both teams scored in the fourth inning as Wartburg maintained a 6-3 advantage.
However, the first five Gustie batters reached base in the top of the sixth leading to a nine-run inning after six hits and two errors. Gustavus held a 12-6 lead by the time the third out was recorded. The Knights were held to just one hit in their last two at-bats and were sat down in order in the seventh to give the Gusties a come-from-behind win.
Offensively, four batters posted multi-hit games for Gustavus including Tory Herman (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Mike DesLauriers (2-for-5, 2 runs scored), Chad Eul (2-for-2, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI), and Andrew Woitas (2-for-3, 1 RBI). Greg Lane also drove in two runs for the Gusties. Starting pitcher Adam Bren worked three innings giving up three hits for four earned runs, while walking three batters. Cam Knetsch also gave up three hits for one earned run in 1.1 innings. Alan Woitas picked up the win as he pitched for 2.2 innings en route to just two hits and no runs allowed.
Gustavus will face Buena Vista University on Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. in Storm Lake, Iowa. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at 1 p.m.